Have you ever thought of using yogurt in the garden? Today we learn about 5 surprising uses of yogurt in the orchard or garden.
Probiotics are good for our health as they help improve digestion, promote the absorption of calcium, iron and magnesium, and strengthen the immune system. But did you know you can also use it in your garden? Let’s see how!
Yogurt in plants! Everyone has started doing it. It’s amazing what it can be used for!
Yogurt is a dairy product, the result of bacterial fermentation of milk. Yogurt can benefit not only our health, but also plants. Plant bacteria and fungi are known as endophytes; they are the probiotics of plants. In research, it was found that plants such as peas, lentils, potatoes and beans have bacteria, which help fix nitrogen.
According to research, conducted at the University of Washington, probiotics help fix the nitrogen content of the plant, improving its growth. Endophytes in plant nodules work in the same way as probiotics for gastrointestinal health in humans.
Powerful anti-mold :
Use yogurt in your garden or vegetable garden to protect your plants from fungal diseases such as rot, mildew and powdery mildew. Add a tablespoon of white yogurt to a cup of water and fill a spray bottle with the mixture. Spray this solution on the affected leaves. You can use it daily as a preventive measure: the microbes in the yogurt fight the pathogenic organisms by forming a layer on the leaf. You can also use yogurt whey (a watery liquid that collects on top of yogurt) in the garden, as it is full of good bacteria.
In the compost :
Add yogurt inside the compost and cover it with sawdust and leaves. Yogurt will improve soil fertility and increase the number of microorganisms. Compost with yogurt can promote the production of common garden plants, vegetables and fruits.
Natural fertilizer :
You can use yogurt as a natural organic fertilizer in your garden. It provides nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil without leaving harmful residue. Mix it with water, 50:50 ratio, and pour it around the roots of plants, once or twice a month. Applying yogurt will improve the plant’s ability to absorb nitrogen.
Growing moss :
Yogurt is one of the best means of growing moss. To do this, mix one cup of yogurt with 2 tablespoons of moss in a blender until it forms a thick paste. Pour it where you want it to grow. Water the surface regularly and it will bloom in no time!
Great for citrus :
You can apply one to two cups of white yogurt around the base of lemon or other citrus during the growing season, once every 4-6 weeks, to help the plant grow healthy and strong.
